Thursday, 24 November 2011

With no special guy to warm you up coming in from the minus 40 degree weather outside, and no one to stay in with you on a Friday night because the windchill is so unbearable: the only thing worse than Winnipeg winter, is being cold AND single AND living in Winnipeg.

The last chapter of the book, "He's Just Not That Into You," tells the age old tale of women who date guys who are jerks because it's hard for women to find men, and because it sucks to be single.

The female co-author says what most of women are afraid of: there are "statistics" that there aren't nearly as many good men in this world as there are women, lots of women settle.

I personally think Winnipeg could be a case study for that "statistic". If you have read my older blog post about how Winnipeg is known for its good looking women, you will find actual statistics about how there are more women than men in this city. And despite many of them being very good looking women, some often settle for jerks who aren't half as good as they are.

As living, breathing proof, and the daughter of living, breathing proof, for a number of years; being single in this city is hard.

Here are my case studies:

Just like how most stories start, I have a friend who dated a guy.

The guy was nothing special; short, athletic, decent job, outgoing but drank too much. You know? The basic criteria that the female species looks for in a male counterpart.

He would hang out with her whenever she wanted, but there was no commitment. How could you blame the guy? He was young, fun and decent looking, AND he had girls blowin' up his phone all the time.

So why would he commit to this beautiful, smart, young, successful girl, when he could have other girls, whenever he wanted, despite being only fairly average? Because he is a big fish in a small pond, and that pond is Winnipeg.

I have a couple friends who are young, super cool, smart and really pretty. They turn to Plenty of Fish dating site, for lack of meeting new men the old fashioned way; through friends, at hot dog stands, and at socials.

Plenty of Fish, according to popular rumours, is used by scuzzy men to find women, sleep with them and then never call them again. I'm sure not all men are taking advantage of this site, and I do know of a few success stories.

However, if these amazingly fun, cool, young women can't find success through a site, what chance do they have at finding Mr. Right the non-electronic way?

I am far from being bitter, but after years of listening to my friends and family try everything from dating sites to night clubs to school libraries, I can see how frustrating it is to be single in this very cold, very small city.

Love can be found even when you can't feel your fingers, it just might take a bit more searching. And mittens.

SIDE NOTE: Because of the many comments, please understand that I was not blogging to give a dating lesson, nor do I need any dating lessons. Just simply generalizing the sentiment felt by some single women.

Friday, 18 November 2011

On my walk home from school, I pass the tents and signs set up at Memorial Park. I look at the make shift campsite, and wonder if the people freezing their butts off every night are there to prove a point, or if they're there to be a part of the bigger movement. To one day be able tell their grandkids "Yeah, I was a part of Occupy, maaaannnnnnn."

Either way, for those who us who are unaware of their protest demands, the "Occupants" just look like a bunch of really dumb urban campers. Looks like fun? Join us.

The problem with Occupy Winnipeg is; it's loosing momentum. Quickly. The focus is nearly is lost, and hardly there in the first place.

With the NYPD pushing the protesters out of Liberty Square (Zuccotti Park), and the world moving on from the initial shock of people protesting something-but-we're-not-all-quite-sure-what. The trend seems to be dying out (and we all know it is a trend because Kanye West was there).

Other Occupy locations in Canada are beginning to be dismantled. This "revolutionary" movement already something we're going to look back on and laugh.

Today, while I was doing research in order to formulate my opinion about Occupy, I went to the Occupy Winnipeg Website (click to go to).

Any confusion I had about their demands, was now clearly spelled out in front of me with nice typography and good design.

In comparison to the Occupy Wall Street (click to go to) website, the Winnipeg website is more clear, and better put together. Suddenly, I felt more compelled to listen to what these peaceful protesters have to say.

So here's what still makes me wonder; if they can get their shit together enough to organize a nice website, then why can't they get their shit together enough for us, in Winnipeg, to care?

What I'm trying to say is: the overall movement is to protest against economic and social inequality, right? And while I agree that the demands made by Occupy Winnipeg are large societal problems that should addressed.

However, social and economic inequality will always be there no matter if there are tents in front of the Leg' or not.

Call it pessimistic, call it what you will, but really these problems run much too deep for anyone to be able to protest them seriously.

But then again, maybe I'm wrong because there are thousands of people around the world doing it right now.

Wouldn't it be more effective to go volunteer somewhere, rather than go camping?!

Anyway, good luck out there guys! I'm off to my minimum wage paying job with a smile on my face.Donate: To whom?

Friday, 4 November 2011

Growing up in Winnipeg, The Forks was always a weekend part of family time.

On Friday nights, we would pile into my Dad's van "Big Blue," and head down VJ's drive in on Main for supper, or at least until my Dad's cholesterol got too high.

After VJ's we would head to The Forks. We would all hold hands and do "1..2..3..weee" with my youngest sister, Logan.

My step-mom would look at the jewelry, we would look at the arts and crafts, Dad would mosey around and make small talk with strangers, and depending on the time of year; we would either watch the ice skaters on the circular rink or the buskers in the courtyard.

I am not talking about The Forks the way that it is now. When I was a kid; the children's museum had just moved from downtown, there was no "Inn at The Forks," no skate park, no MTYP (Manitoba Theater for Young People), no Goldeyes Stadium until my late adolescence, and obviously no Human Rights Museum.

The Forks, from what I remembered, used to be more of a market square, with a lot more green space, surrounded by the small high rise buildings of downtown Winnipeg; their lights glistening off Red and Assinaboine River...

I don't dislike the "new look" of The Forks, and I think it's great that there are plenty more reasons to go there and enjoy what I personally think is the best part of our city. However, I miss the space where many of the buildings now are. The parking garage and the Inn at The Forks seems a little crowded in a area that perhaps should have been kept as green.

I remember sitting under a tree in that very where the Inn is now on Canada Day with my Auntie and Mom having our packed lunch with Canadian flags in our pony tails.

Last fall, a friend visited me from Alberta, he had never been further East than Saskatchewan before. Naturally, I had brought him to The Forks. I had to explain to him the draw of The Forks: the river walk in the summer (most of the time), the longest ice skating rink in the winter, dancing and ice skating in the courtyard, ice cream, face paint, old locomotives full of candy, Aboriginal art, Chinese art, history, booze at Fin McQ's, Spaghetti, wings, museums, skate parks, snowboard rails, outdoor music theaters, baseball, theater, and children's fun.

I didn`t know that becoming a tourist again in my own city iinorder to show him around would re-kindle my love and appreciation for The Forks, presently and in past memories, and as much as I do love The Forks, I suppose green space downtown is the price we pay for in order to gain for more tourism.